Old Napier Lighthouse (1873-1948) It was situated slightly higher above the prison, on the city side (not on the port side) Above Ocean Spa When Alfred Domett laid the first town plan, he suggested a lighthouse be situated in what is now the bluff hill lookout reserve. Lighthouse Road was named as such. However when it came time for the marine engineer to make his assessments, he decided it would be on the goal property (prison) The light was originally gas lit, and the first keepers were the prison wardens. In the 1930s it was found that the light was becoming too dim amongst the lights of Napier city, and the government decided to transfer the responsibility to the local harbour board. They suggested it be moved to bluff hill - where it would be more useful but WWII broke out and gun embankments were built instead. After WWII there were proposals to move it again to bluff hill, or to cape kidnappers. The westshore guidance lights were improved by the harbour board routine plan, and so it was decommissioned. In 1948 it was demolished.
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 07:01:07 +0000